Jannik Sinner had to “dig himself out of a hole” after roasting his champion Aussie coach Darren Cahill after his Australian Open semi-final win.
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The world No.1, who blamed his former physical therapist for testing positive to a banned substance last year, has gone through a number of coaching changes in his young career.
But after beating Ben Shelton in straight sets, courtside interviewer Jim Courier asked Sinner about the impact of his coaching staff.
“I have an incredible team right there,” the Italian said, pointing to the team sitting in the courtside coaching pod.
“You know, they raised me (into) a different player. I think every coach has his own, you know, department where he is good and I have two very different coaches.”
But that’s where Sinner got a bit cheeky.
“Simone (Vagnozzi) is very tactical. He was ranked 161 (in the world as a player) and Darren (Cahill) was around 30, so it is a bit different, but that’s why-” he said, before pausing due to the laughter of both the crowd and his coaches.
Courier quipped in response: “That hurts.”
Sinner continued: “No, but he (Cahill) always said, you know, even when he played, his goal was to be a coach.”
Cahill dived for cover, hugging his fellow coach for support.
Sinner tried to make amends: “And I have to say he is a very, very good coach. He is an amazing coach.”
Courier joined in the fun, saying: “Dig yourself out of the hole young man. Take yourself out. You can do it.”
But Sinner continued the praise: “It’s a great relationship. We are not only a team who worked together on the court but we are more like a family also off the court, which is amazing to have them.
“Darren is in his last season this year as a coach and I’m happy that we have again a chance to fight for the title. Very, very happy. And the season is still on but it means a lot to me to make it happen here.”
Though he wasn’t quite done with the awkward praise, saying: “And I don’t want to forget my physio and physical trainer. Because if not, they get very offended.”
And we’re sure they won’t get offended by you mentioning they get offended, Jannik.
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